Flexible inductive sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensor, comprising:
- an inductor comprising conductive loops and associated with an inductance;
one or more hinges mechanically coupling one or more pairs of the loops; and
a sensor material configured to respond to a parameter of interest by a dimensional change of the sensor material, the sensor material oriented with respect to the loops so that the dimensional change of the sensor material causes a change in position of at least a first one of the loops relative to at least a second one of the loops and produces a change in the inductance of the inductor.
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Abstract
An inductive sensor includes an inductor comprising conductive loops and at least one hinge mechanically coupling the loops. Operation of the hinge changes the position of the loops and causes a change in the inductance of the sensor. A sensor material may be oriented with respect to the loops so that a dimensional change of the sensor material operates the hinge and causes the change in the position of the loops.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A sensor, comprising:
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an inductor comprising conductive loops and associated with an inductance; one or more hinges mechanically coupling one or more pairs of the loops; and a sensor material configured to respond to a parameter of interest by a dimensional change of the sensor material, the sensor material oriented with respect to the loops so that the dimensional change of the sensor material causes a change in position of at least a first one of the loops relative to at least a second one of the loops and produces a change in the inductance of the inductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A sensor, comprising an inductor comprising conductive loops, each conductive loop disposed on a planar substrate;
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one or more hinges mechanically coupling at least one pair of the conductive loops so that operation of the one or more hinges changes the angular orientation of the loops, causing a corresponding change in the inductance of the inductor; and a sensor material configured to respond to a parameter of interest by a dimensional change of the sensor material, the sensor material oriented with respect to the loops so that the dimensional change of the sensor material causes operation of the one or more hinges. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A sensor system comprising:
an inductive sensor, comprising; an inductor comprising conductive loops and associated with an inductance; one or more hinges mechanically coupling one or more pairs of the loops; and a sensor material configured to respond to a parameter of interest by a dimensional change of the sensor material, the sensor material oriented with respect to the loops so that the dimensional change of the sensor material causes a change in position of at least a first one of the loops relative to at least a second one of the loops and produces a change in the inductance of the inductor; and sensor circuitry electrically coupled to the inductor to form a resonant circuit having one or more resonance characteristics dependent on the inductance; and
an interrogator configured to detect a change in the resonance characteristics of the resonant circuit.- View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method for making an inductive sensor, comprising:
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forming a first loop of electrically conductive material on a first portion of a planar substrate, the substrate having at least a first portion, a second portion, and a flexible hinge portion connecting the first and second portions; forming a second loop of electrically conductive material on the second portion of the substrate, the second loop electrically coupled to the first loop; orienting a sensor material with respect to the substrate, the sensor material configured to respond to a parameter of interest by a dimensional change of the sensor material; and folding the substrate at the hinge portion so that the sensor material is disposed between the first loop and the second loop and the first and second loops form coils of an inductor; and perforating the substrate to allow exposure of the sensor material to the parameter of interest. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for making an inductive sensor, comprising:
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forming a first loop of electrically conductive material on a first portion of a planar substrate, the substrate having at least a first portion, a second portion, and a flexible hinge portion connecting the first and second portions; forming a second loop of electrically conductive material on the second portion of the substrate, the second loop electrically coupled to the first loop; orienting a sensor material with respect to the substrate, the sensor material configured to respond to a parameter of interest by a dimensional change of the sensor material; folding the substrate at the hinge portion so that the sensor material is disposed between the first loop and the second loop and the first and second loops form coils of an inductor; and
changing position of the first loop relative to the second loop in response to the dimensional change in the sensor material.
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Specification